Don Iwerks, Disney Legend, Has Passed Away at Age 96

It’s with heavy hearts that we share that Disney Legend Don Iwerks, known for being a pioneer in the development of multiple camera, projection, and other technical systems for Disney parks and films, has passed away at the age of 96 on July 9th.

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To celebrate the life of such an incredible contributor to The Walt Disney Company, the company released an article detailing his life with the company and many accomplishments.

Don was born on July 24th, 1929, and followed his father, animator, special effects wizard, and fellow Disney Legend Ub Iwerks, to Walt Disney Productions in 1950 and began as a special photographic processes laboratory technician. Shortly after, he was drafted to the Korean War, but returned to Disney after his two years of service. We thank him for his service.

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He transferred to the Studio Machine Shop in early January 1953, where he was offered a position as a camera technician. His first film with Disney was 1954’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and he eventually worked up to leading both the Machine Shop and Camera Service Department and the Technical Engineering and Manufacturing Division.

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He was a big part of developing the 360-degree Circle-Vision camera, first used inside the Circarama, U.S.A. attraction in Disneyland, and for Italia ’61, Don taught an Italian film crew how to use the unique camera. Don also was part of building and developing the innovative film equipment used at the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair, helped engineer 3-D film and in-theater effects for Captain EO, and built the projection system for Star Tours.

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To recognize his various contributions to the history of film, Don was honored with the Gordon E. Sawyer Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors in 1997, and then recognized as a Disney Legend at the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009. You can find both his and his father’s handprints at Legends Plaza on The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. Additionally, you can find them both honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom called “Iwerks–Iwerks Stereoscopic Cameras.”

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Josh D’Amaro, Disney CEO, spoke on his passing, saying, “Don embodied that rare combination of heart, ingenuity, and passion that has always defined Disney. Through his innovative contributions to some of our most iconic films and attractions, he helped create experiences that have delighted generations of fans around the world. All of us at The Walt Disney Company will miss him deeply, and we send our most heartfelt condolences to his family, whose enduring connection to Disney has helped shape its legacy for over a century.”